WASHINGTON — Wade Henderson, interim president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act:
“The MORE Act is the most comprehensive marijuana legislation to advance in Congress that directly addresses the harms that the so-called ‘war on drugs’ has wrought on Black and Brown communities. Most voters support transforming our marijuana laws, as the enforcement of these draconian policies has exacerbated racial inequity in the criminal-legal system. We applaud the House for passing this bill to help communities of color who are demanding justice and for advancing opportunities for people who have been largely shut out of the cannabis industry. We look forward to working with the Senate to pass marijuana decriminalization.”
The MORE Act is a marijuana decriminalization measure that addresses racial justice and equity through descheduling marijuana, expunging and resentencing people who have been sentenced for marijuana offenses, and ending the restriction of federal benefits to people who use marijuana. As part of the Marijuana Justice Coalition, The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and ACLU urged House leadership to advance this legislation earlier this week.
The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is a coalition charged by its diverse membership of more than 230 national organizations to promote and protect the rights of all persons in the United States. The Leadership Conference works toward an America as good as its ideals. For more information on The Leadership Conference and its member organizations, visit www.civilrights.org.